Saturday, 10 September 2016

Emerging out of the blossoming House / Acid House scene in the late 1980's, early 90's was a DJ destined for a great future. Tommy D Funk took his place as a renowned DJ playing as resident DJ at DRY Bar 201 - the Haçienda's sister bar, before subsequently progressing to take a weekly residency at the Haçienda and going on to international acclaim first Djing in Seoul and on to New York City!

Tommy began his DJ career with a residency in a Manchester pub where he was influenced by the emerging scene that had exploded in Manchester. Tommy went on to win a DJ competition organised by DRY Bar 201 which helped establish him as a sought after DJ. Playing deep, funky and soulful US/UK house music, his mixing skills and energy soon revved up the crowd and Tommy soon found himself gracing the decks of Manchester clubs such as the No1 Club, Sankeys and Home which soon brought him attention from Haçienda influencers such as Angela Matthews, Manager of the Haçienda! The only way forward was a residency at Faç51.... the Haçienda!

This set was recorded at DRY Bar 201 in 1995. A superb vocal led House / Garage set with stomping pianos and lush house cords mixed to perfection, a perfect start to a night for clubbers before hitting the Haçienda! Listening to the mix it is easy to see why Tommy was next to take his place behind the hallowed decks at the Haçienda alongside Graeme Park, Roger Sanchez and Tony Humphries to name a few.

Today Tommy is active on the New York House Scene, regularly playing alongside other great DJ's such as Eric Kupper, Marshall Jefferson, Kerry Chandler, Robert Owens, Lenny Fontana, CJ Mackintosh, Miguel Migs and DJ Disciple amongst many others! Club credentials include DJing at The Discoteque, Cheetha Club, Late Late Bar, Le Souk, Barrio 47; along with his own Legendary nights 'Sounds of the Dance Underground'. Tommy is also a reviewer for DJ Times and Club World Magazine....

For more recent mixes head over to Tommy's Soundcloud page by touching the following link: Tommy D Funk

Friday, 2 September 2016

Anyone who reads the warblings in my BLOG51 can see what impact the Haçienda has had on my life, there isn't a day where the place, the music doesn't enter my thoughts or ears! It is easy to think that this is boardering obsessive and sometimes I do wonder about myself lol! Not only have I amassed an array of tapes but also Haçienda merchandise, along with mementos such as badges, posters and flyers that are still highly sought after even today but there are some things that are just that bit more special.....A few years ago a few Hacienda devotees asked a question; 'Do You Own The Dancefloor?' Subsequently they went on to make a film that in my eyes, hits the nail right on the head as to just what the scene was about!! The film not only documents aspects of the Haçienda itself, the music and the design, but also the passion, the energy and the devotion of the people, clubbers and instigators that made the Haçienda the phenomenon that it still is today. In my eyes that is a special and rare thing...... see the trailer below......

To quote the makers of the film "In November 2000, many of the key elements from the
iconic venue the Haçienda ended up as 69 lots at a charity auction
before it was demolished to make way for a block of apartments. It resulted in parts of the nightclub - the epicenter of Manchester’s
pop culture in the 1980s and 1990s – being scattered across the world.

As well as the auction, our film tracks down what happened to the
parts of the club itself, whose famous industrial design by interiors
guru Ben Kelly included motorway cat’s eyes, traffic bollards and hazard
signs.
The documentary isn’t just about the Haçienda. It’s also about the
people so affected by their times there, that they had to come to
Manchester to bid for bricks, toilets, exit signs and even pieces of the
hallowed dance floor – and also about where those mementos are now".

Every time I watch the trailer I get goosebumps.... a tear in my eye and a grin as wide as a Cheshire cat! Emotions flow - It makes me feel sad due to it's closure and so elated as I was able to take part in the club that changed the world - enjoy!

Lovingly the proceedes raised from the film go to Kidneys for Life & Cancer Research.

My piece of the dancefloor, some flyers from the shiva Saturday night in 1991 and a piece of the staircase trim plate

Thursday, 1 September 2016

A timeless set from David Morales recorded at the 11th Birthday Party night back in 1993. Seemlessly mixed and full of energy. Morales played in the basement of the club; a dark, dirty and hedonistically sweaty room perfect for messing with the mind, body and soul! playing tracks from MAW, Todd Terry, Pfantasy and Marshall Jefferson to name a few.

To quote 'Trackhead' to whom I owe thanks for the original upload of this set 'Stripped to the waist, wearing a skull cap & tattooed muscles,
Morales played street tough New York City house music, and there's
lessons in here for modern DJs'.... Morales rocked and always will do!!

Sadly as far as I can recall, Morales never played the Haçienda again due to a joyless squirmish involving the throwing of a bottle! At least we have this superb set to remind us how great these nights were, how Morales ruled the dancefloors and once again another Haç memory for us all to enjoy.